F1 | For 2026 Ferrari has an advantage it can (and must) exploit over its rivals
After finishing fourth in the Constructors’ Championship, Ferrari will have a development advantage over its rivals when it comes to the 2026 Formula 1 car. In Maranello, the year 2025 will be remembered as one of the darkest chapters in the history of the Prancing Horse. The fourth place in the standings and the complete absence of victories were two outcomes few would have predicted twelve months ago, when Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc were both fighting to bring a world title back to Ferrari. Instead, almost a year later, we are left looking back at a season that offered very little to celebrate.
The advantage now in Ferrari’s hands
Yet, amid the disappointment, there is one aspect that can be considered a small silver lining. “Thanks” to the fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship, Ferrari will be entitled to more aerodynamic testing hours for the development of the car that will appear on track in 2026. Each week, Maranello will have roughly a couple more wind tunnel and aerodynamic testing sessions compared to Mercedes, Red Bull and McLaren. It is an advantage not to be underestimated, especially ahead of a season shaped by one of the most significant regulation overhauls in the modern history of Formula 1.
Furthermore, according to reports from the Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera, Ferrari has entrusted Frank Sanchez with the responsibility of overseeing the entire development plan of the new car. The newspaper also notes that Ferrari intends to adopt a development approach that differs from the one used in 2025 for its update cycle and upgrade philosophy.
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